Tivan has received the green light from the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment to start a maiden drilling program at its Sandover Project and a four-year deemed mining licence.
The regulatory approval is in the form of a mining management plan and includes recently discovered high-grade lead and silver prospects.
Tivan’s exploration partner, EARTH AI, made these discoveries in Q2 2024 via surface rock and soil sampling programs, returning grades of up to 23.8 per cent lead (Pb) and 469g/t silver (Ag). Earlier in 2024, the Sandover Project was upgraded to a strategic priority at Tivan.
The Tivan Board noted the complex regulatory and cultural heritage frameworks that apply to early-stage resource projects in the Northern Territory. Tivan’s regulatory approval reflects the recent transition from the Mining Management Act 2001 to the Environmental Protection Act 2019, effective 1 July 2024.
Tivan said it supports the new policy framework by providing greater environmental oversight for ground-disturbing activities whilst streamlining the approval process for future exploration initiatives.
Tivan is finalising a mineral exploration deed with the Central Land Council (CLC) to support the commencement of drilling. The purpose of the deed is to recognise the rights and interests of Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders at Sandover, including respect to cultural heritage and sacred sites, and to provide the basis for durable and respectful partnerships to be forged in central Australia.
Consistent with Tivan’s firm-wide policy of early and inclusive engagement with Traditional Owners, Executive Chairman, Grant Wilson, has travelled to central Alice Springs four times this year. Tivan anticipates the finalisation of relevant agreements in Q4.
Mr Wilson said the regulatory approval marks an important step forward for the Sandover Project and the company’s exploration alliance with EARTH AI.
“We have made great progress together over 18 months, with Sandover now positioned at the global frontier of technology-driven exploration and our Alliance having earned a social licence to operate.
“We are looking forward to making a start and to progressing the potentially transformative opportunities we have in central Australia. There is much more to Sandover than meets the eye.”
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